Lebanon's parliament voted on Tuesday to abolish the death penalty, becoming the first country in the Middle East to eliminate capital punishment.
The country has not carried out an execution since 2004, though courts have continued to impose death sentences. A death sentence was issued as recently as Monday, according to reports.
Amnesty International said at least 85 people remained on death row as of January. In Lebanon, capital punishment had typically been applied for serious crimes including murder, terrorism and espionage.
